Playground safety and inspections

To keep children safe it is important to ensure that playground equipment is checked regularly both by local staff and by a qualified and competent inspector.

IMPORTANT MESSAGE FEBRUARY 2024: THERE IS STILL SOME CONFUSION REGARDING WHICH CHECKS SCHOOLS SHOULD HAVE UNDERTAKEN BY EXTERNAL INSPECTORS. PLEASE ENSURE YOU READ THE GUIDANCE BELOW FOR CLARITY. PLEASE CONTACT ME AT [email protected] IF THERE ARE ANY QUERIES AND WE CAN GO THROUGH THE LISTS OF INSPECTORS ONLINE TOGETHER. THANK YOU!

• Playground and PE equipment inspection guidance (2022) – Suffolk County Council guidance on the types of inspections, frequency, and how to ensure your inspector is competent and qualified.

PE safety including equipment inspections

• Please follow the above Playground and PE equipment inspection guidance for the types and frequency of checking PE equipment.

• The Association for Physical Education has resources available on their website including information about inspections and maintenance of PE equipment. As a member you also get access to further health and safety information and resources.
  Nina Bickerton is a member on behalf of maintained schools, so please contact her about information you may require.
  Non-maintained schools need to become a member in their own right.

• See the HSE guidance for Swimming Pool Management, if your school has a swimming pool.

National Sports bodies guidance and resources

• Football – FA Heading Guidance by age group – Feb 2020

• Rugby Union – including ‘Rugby Safe’.

• British Gymnastics – their health and safety page.

• Swim England – a link to all their safety articles on their website.